Inside the Phillies with MLB.com beat writer Todd Zolecki

Phillies Pick Up Lee's Option

The Phillies announced their first significant move of the off-season today when they picked up Cliff Lee‘s $9 million club option.

It was no surprise.

Ruben Amaro Jr. said they have spoken with Lee’s agent a couple times during the postseason, and said they would consider thinking about a contract extension for Lee.

“That said, we have some time on that,” Amaro said.

Amaro also said they have not decided on Pedro Feliz‘s $5.5 million club option. Amaro said that decision must be made by Monday.

“More than anything else, what options might be out there for us,” said Amaro, asked why the decision on Feliz’s option is more difficult than Lee’s. “And deciding whether picking up his option is best suited to try to move forward. He had a solid year for us. I like the man personally. He’s a great person. He’s a great teammate. But I also believe in trying to improve and sometimes a change can be for the better. It doesn’t necessarily mean we’re going to, but it’s something that we’re thinking about.”

Amaro announced that leftfielder Raul Ibanez (groin), closer Brad Lidge (elbow) and Scott Eyre (elbow) would be seen by team doctors Friday and Saturday. Eyre needs surgery to remove a loose body from his elbow. Lidge is going to get checked for potential loose bodies in his elbow. And Ibanez will have a MRI on his groin. Ibanez also had a tear in his abdomen, which might require surgery.

“We’re getting our arms around that to see exactly what kind of damage he has in there,” Amaro said of Ibanez’s injury.

Amaro also announced that the entire coaching staff has been invited back for 2010.

That’s a pretty small window to make a decision on Feliz. I would wait. There are some pretty good third basemen available and they could still re-sign Pedro. From what Amoaro says there, he appears to be inclined to wait.

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